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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What other subject does Augustine addresses in Book Three and Book Four?
(a) Understanding how scripture develops community.
(b) Teaching the doctrines of Scripture.
(c) Understanding how to convey what one learned from Scripture.
(d) Understanding how to learn from Scripture.

2. What setting does Augustine recommend for sound Scriptural learning?
(a) An ecclesiastical structure.
(b) A private audience with a well-trained Priest.
(c) A properly sanctioned site of Scriptural education.
(d) Human communities.

3. What is the main difference between the system of learning that Augustine advocates and that advocated by the critics he focuses on in the Preface?
(a) Augustine's system requires finding a qualified Priest to hand down the official teaching of the Church whereas the critics allow free interpretation.
(b) Augustine's system requires great expense in accessing the necessary documents of learning whereas the critics allow for the interpretation of the spirit through tongues.
(c) Augustine's system requires study and application of rules whereas the critics believe they can understand through special gifts.
(d) Augustine's system of learning requires study in Greek philosophy whereas the critics require researching copies of manuscripts.

4. When Augustine focuses on one of the types of criticism he expects to receive, what does he suggest to the reader?
(a) That these types of critics will either understand Scripture or believe they do.
(b) That these types of critics are a threat to the true Church.
(c) That these types of critics, if they gather a following around their criticism, are dangerously close to practicing heresy.
(d) That these types of critics are stagnant in their thoughts and threaten to limit the influence of Divine guidance.

5. What does Augustine use to illustrate a thing to be used?
(a) A delicious meal used to to bring friends together.
(b) Community that develops among friends during a delicious meal.
(c) A pot for cooking a delicious meal.
(d) A friend who has the special gift to cook a delicious meal.

6. What does Augustine consider as God's typical means of delivering His illumination?
(a) Using the"still quiet moments" to deliver His illumination.
(b) Using adversity to deliver His illumination.
(c) Using nature to deliver His illumination.
(d) Using humans to deliver His illumination.

7. What is Augustine's attitude toward those who have a "special gift" for interpretation from God?
(a) Such "gifts" were exhausted at Pentecost.
(b) They are blessed.
(c) Augustine considers himself as one.
(d) God will appoint them to a position of authority.

8. What are the two main tools that God uses to teach men what to do, as identified by Augustine?
(a) Angels and human communities.
(b) Wars and rumors of wars.
(c) Priests and Rabbis
(d) Scripture and nature.

9. What does Augustine consider to be the ultimate thing to be enjoyed?
(a) The Trinity of Christianity.
(b) The concept of Christian love as practiced in community.
(c) The things that we can develop from our special gifts.
(d) The things that God places in nature for us to use.

10. Augustine wrote that the critics he mainly focuses on in the Preface base their positions on what belief?
(a) That they already understand Scripture.
(b) Fear of losing their influence.
(c) Resistance to accept new ideas.
(d) A misapplication of Scripture.

11. Who does Augustine suggest has the ability to know the Truth?
(a) Minds God endowed with special gifts.
(b) Illuminated minds.
(c) All minds joined in community.
(d) All minds.

12. What was the first type of criticism Augustine suggests his work "On Christian Doctrine" would face?
(a) Criticism from those who cannot grasp his teaching.
(b) Criticism that his moral demands would be restricted to pagan converts.
(c) Criticism that his demands for linguistic studies were too exclusive.
(d) Criticism that blending Greek and Christian philosophies was heretical.

13. To what does Augustine compare his distinction of things?
(a) To that between instrumental and intrinsic good.
(b) To that between human nature and original sin.
(c) To that between critics who do not understand and critics who believe in "special gifts."
(d) To that between God and Lucifer.

14. How does Augustine use the items of his example to illustrate his distinction?
(a) The meal is enjoyed, but the pot is used.
(b) That Adam made the choice of sin, but Cain responded out of the impulse passed to him from Adam's choice.
(c) That Lucifer sought to discredit Job's faith, but God realized the depth of Job's convictions.
(d) That critics who do not understand show a lack of interest to discover, but those who believe in special gifts use a false faith to rationalize their lack of interest.

15. What does Augustine write is incompatible with love?
(a) Using things without the goal of enjoying them is incompatible with love.
(b) Coveting things for one's self is incompatible with love.
(c) Using things for non-Scriptural purposes is incompatible with love.
(d) Using things without seeking wisdom is incompatible with love.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Augustine conclude are the only things that can be enjoyed?

2. What is the step that Augustine identifies an individual should take before entering into a proper relationship with God?

3. Of these influences on personal thought, which does Augustine claim Scripture teaches can lead a Christian to positive patterns?

4. What items or situations does Augustine use to illustrate his distinction of things?

5. What is an important distinction that Augustine teaches students to understand through three Books of "On Christian Doctrine?

(see the answer keys)

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